HECTOR — The Wildcats would be hard pressed to find a more riveting opponent for their homecoming game on Friday at Wildcat Field. Hector, which sits atop the 2A-4 Conference, will take on the No. 2 Magazine Rattlers. Both teams are undefeated in the conference.

Fortunately for the Wildcats, both the homecoming excitement and homefield advantage will be on their side.

“I think homefield advantage is always big for us,” Hector head coach Mark Taylor said. “We haven’t lost at home since Dierks in the playoffs in 2012, and in regular-season play, we haven’t lost since Two Rivers in Week 2 of last season. We play well at home.”

Taylor expects a ground game from the Rattlers. In fact, the coach said if Magazine has to rely on its air attack, it means the Wildcats are doing their job.

“They’re a good quick football team,” Taylor said. “They’ve got a good quarterback and a good fullback that hits the hole hard. It’s the key to their offense, those two. They’re going to run those two guys. If they snap the ball 50 times, they’ll run it 40 times, with one of those two with the ball in their hands.”

Stopping the ground attack is key, but Taylor thinks Hector does have an advantage up front.

“We’re bigger than they are — probably the biggest team they’ll face all year. We’re really bug up front defensive-line wise, and I think that’ll be key to stopping them a little bit,” the coach said.

Hector averages 274 yards on the ground and 148 yards passing, which makes them difficult to stop. Taylor said it comes from honing in on their talents, and polishing them until they shine.

“We said, ‘let’s find our five best run plays, and three best pass plays and get real good at them,” Taylor explained. “We’ve really worked on polishing things up. We’re throwing the ball really well and running it really well. I think we’ll be difficult to defend against with a little balance.”

Wildcats freshman quarterback Tanner Gaines has eased into the starting role and Taylor said a big part of that is because of the offensive line. In fact, Taylor said the success they’ve had running and throwing comes down to the big men up front.

“Our offensive line is very protective of those guys. They don’t want guys getting shots at our quarterback or our two running backs.

“They feel like big brothers out there,” Taylor said.

The atmosphere in Hector is one of excitement. Many are speculating that this may be the Wildcat’s year to make a state run. Taylor admitted that the coaching staff has looked down the road at who they might meet in the playoffs, but said that he encourages the kids to live in the moment.

“We tell them to enjoy the atmosphere,” he said. “Let’s enjoy each week and each moment and try not to rush through to the end of the season. We’ve had a fun week at practice talking about how big of a game this is. Magazine is a good football team. They kind of remind me of us. They’re gritty and they don’t like to lose.”